But rather than invite President Trump, the school chose to host
Vice President Mike Pence, a slight change from tradition during
the prior two presidencies.

In fact, four of the past six presidents — Barack Obama, George
W. Bush, Ronald Reagan and Jimmy Carter — spoke at Notre Dame's
graduation during their first year in office, according to The
Washington Post, in addition to receiving an honorary degree
during the ceremony.

The decision to invite Pence ended conjecture among students over
who would provide the school's graduation remarks in the spring.
Thousands of students and faculty members
signed a petition urging the school not to invite Trump.

Commencement speeches have become increasingly politicized
affairs. Obama was unable to escape criticism during his speech
at Notre Dame in 2009 and endured
shouts of "baby killer" and "abortion is murder."

Trump, too, has been the subject of withering criticism at Notre
Dame. "He has had so much hateful rhetoric in his campaign and
since he has been president," Notre Dame senior Mylan Jefferson,
21, told The Washington Post. "The actions and words that Donald
Trump uses directly contradict our mission statement."